Actual Functions Performed By a Domestic Power Inverter

An inverter is a device that does the opposite of what a rectifier does, that is converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The device that you use in the households does a lot more that this conversion.

When the AC power supply is coming, the batteries of the inverter get charged from the same power supply. The inverter also "forwards" the AC power supply directly to its output, during the time when the AC power supply is switched on. At the time of a power outage, this equipment automatically begins drawing the power from the charged batteries, and feeds "generated" AC power, to the all the devices that are attached to its output. For this reason, the attached devices run on the "seamless" electric power in an effective way. When the power is back, the inverter stops collect power from the batteries, begins the AC power "forward" task, and then the batteries again start getting charged by collecting power from the main supply.

The AC power supply that we obtain from the power grid at our homes is pure sine wave. However on account of the solid state appliances they use, the power inverters supplied by an inverter manufacturer naturally generate square wave AC.

In order to supply a nearly pure sine wave AC, in a domestic inverter, it must comprise of more complicated circuitry, therefore costs much more, about 25% more than the cost of an equivalent square wave model.

For normal lighting or heating devices, it does not matter whether you buy a square wave or sine wave system. In fact for incandescent bulbs and CFLs, just a CFL inverter is perfect. But for running the sophisticated appliances, you must buy the sine wave inverter.